The Canadian government has expressed its “dissatisfaction” to China after its foreign minister lashed out at a journalist in Ottawa this week over a question regarding China’s human rights record.

Speaking on Friday in Winnipeg, Justin Trudeau said his government had addressed the public scolding with China. The prime minister said that Stéphane Dion, Canada’s foreign affairs minister and officials from the foreign ministry, had “expressed our dissatisfaction to both the Chinese foreign minister and the ambassador of China to Canada – our dissatisfaction with the way our journalists were treated.”

He added, “The fact of the matter is freedom of the press is extremely important to me.” Trudeau said he has repeatedly raised the issue of human rights – including the case of a Canadian detained since 2014 in China on charges of espionage – to Chinese officials.

“Every time I have had an opportunity to meet with any representatives of the Chinese government or of China in general, I have highlighted our concerns around human rights and specifically brought up the case of Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen imprisoned for espionage without any evidence to support the allegations and accusations,” said Trudeau.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, was in Ottawa on Wednesday to meet Trudeau and Dion. At a joint news conference offered by Wang and Dion, reporter Amanda Connolly of online news site IPolitics directed a question to Dion that had been agreed to by several news media.

She asked: “There are no shortages of concerns about China’s treatment of human rights advocates, such as the Hong Kong booksellers and its detention of the Garratts, not to mention the destabilising effects of its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Given these concerns, why is Canada pursuing closer ties with China, how do you plan to use that relationship to improve human rights and security in the region, and did you specifically raise the case of the Garratts during your talks?”

Wang later weighed in with his own response, telling the reporter: “I have to say that your question is full of prejudice against China and arrogance … I don’t know where that comes from. This is totally unacceptable,” he said through an interpreter.

He continued, visibly angry. “Other people don’t know better than the Chinese people about the human rights condition in China, and it is the Chinese people who are in the best position to have a say about China’s human rights situation.”

Canada’s foreign minister stood by quietly as Wang continued. “So I would like to suggest to you please don’t ask questions in such an irresponsible manner and though we welcome goodwill suggestions, we reject groundless or unwarranted accusations,” he said.

The scolding made headlines around the world. In Canada, Dion faced scrutiny over his silence. A column in the conservative National Post newspaper criticised Dion for looking “subservient” to Wang, adding, “the honourable thing for Dion to do would have been to remind Wang that Canada is a democracy in which journalists have the right to ask whatever they damn well please.”

Later Clement said he was willing to give Dion “a little bit of leeway” for not interjecting. “[Dion] didn’t react in the moment, but there has to be some affirmation from the government of Canada that we value journalistic freedom and human rights. That’s what the government has to relay to the Chinese,” he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The affair has shone a spotlight on Canada’s complicated relations with China, with the country seen by some as a gateway to increased trade that could help bolster Canada’s struggling economy and derided by others who cite human rights concerns. Trudeau is expected to visit China in late August.

On a call with reporters on Friday, Dion was asked why he had stayed silent as Wang took aim at the reporter. “Because I consider Madame Connolly as a professional with a thick skin, and she does not need me to go to her rescue,” said Dion.

He said he had discussed several human rights cases “very, very, frankly”, with Wang, including the rights of the press in China. “I think that’s the best way to see progress made.”